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Pereira-Vieira J, Weber DD, Silva S, Barbosa-Matos C, Granja S, Reis RM, Queirós O, Ko YH, Kofler B, Casal M, Baltazar F. Glucose Metabolism as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Cytarabine-Resistant Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:442. [PMID: 38675105 PMCID: PMC11055074 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Altered glycolytic metabolism has been associated with chemoresistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, there are still aspects that need clarification, as well as how to explore these metabolic alterations in therapy. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the role of glucose metabolism in the acquired resistance of AML cells to cytarabine (Ara-C) and to explore it as a therapeutic target. Resistance was induced by stepwise exposure of AML cells to increasing concentrations of Ara-C. Ara-C-resistant cells were characterized for their growth capacity, genetic alterations, metabolic profile, and sensitivity to different metabolic inhibitors. Ara-C-resistant AML cell lines, KG-1 Ara-R, and MOLM13 Ara-R presented different metabolic profiles. KG-1 Ara-R cells exhibited a more pronounced glycolytic phenotype than parental cells, with a weaker acute response to 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP) but higher sensitivity after 48 h. KG-1 Ara-R cells also display increased respiration rates and are more sensitive to phenformin than parental cells. On the other hand, MOLM13 Ara-R cells display a glucose metabolism profile similar to parental cells, as well as sensitivity to glycolytic inhibitors. These results indicate that acquired resistance to Ara-C in AML may involve metabolic adaptations, which can be explored therapeutically in the AML patient setting who developed resistance to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Pereira-Vieira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.P.-V.); (C.B.-M.); (S.G.); (R.M.R.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Daniela D. Weber
- Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (D.D.W.); (B.K.)
| | - Sâmia Silva
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos 14784-400, SP, Brazil;
| | - Catarina Barbosa-Matos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.P.-V.); (C.B.-M.); (S.G.); (R.M.R.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Granja
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.P.-V.); (C.B.-M.); (S.G.); (R.M.R.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Department of Pathological, Cytological and Thanatological Anatomy, ESS|P.PORTO, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Manuel Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.P.-V.); (C.B.-M.); (S.G.); (R.M.R.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos 14784-400, SP, Brazil;
| | - Odília Queirós
- UNIPRO—Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
| | - Young H. Ko
- KoDiscovery, LLC, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) Center, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA;
| | - Barbara Kofler
- Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (D.D.W.); (B.K.)
| | - Margarida Casal
- Center of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.P.-V.); (C.B.-M.); (S.G.); (R.M.R.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Niu Y, Gao T, Ouyang H, Zhang Y, Gong T, Zhang Z, Cao X, Fu Y. Chondroitin Sulfate-Derived Micelles for Adipose Tissue-Targeted Delivery of Celastrol and Phenformin to Enhance Obesity Treatment. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2024; 7:1271-1289. [PMID: 38315869 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c01216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) are crucial in maintaining a low-grade inflammatory microenvironment in adipose tissues (ATs). Modulating ATM polarization to attenuate inflammation represents a potential strategy for treating obesity with insulin resistance. This study develops a combination therapy of celastrol (CLT) and phenformin (PHE) using chondroitin sulfate-derived micelles. Specifically, CLT-loaded 4-aminophenylboronic acid pinacol ester-modified chondroitin sulfate micelle (CS-PBE/CLT) and chondroitin sulfate-phenformin conjugate micelles (CS-PHE) were synthesized, which were shown to actively target ATs through CD44-mediated pathways. Furthermore, the dual micellar systems significantly reduced inflammation and lipid accumulation via protein quantification and Oil Red O staining. In preliminary in vivo studies, we performed H&E staining, immunohistochemical staining, insulin tolerance test, and glucose tolerance test, and the results showed that the combination therapy using CS-PBE/CLT and CS-PHE micelles significantly reduced the average body weight, white adipose tissue mass, and liver mass of high-fat diet-fed mice while improving their systemic glucose homeostasis. Overall, this combination therapy presents a promising alternative to current treatment options for diet-induced obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Niu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Tingting Gao
- School of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- The Grade 3 Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory of State Administrate of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Hongling Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yunxiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Tao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhirong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xi Cao
- School of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- The Grade 3 Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory of State Administrate of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Pereira-Nunes A, Ferreira H, Abreu S, Guedes M, Neves NM, Baltazar F, Granja S. Combination Therapy With CD147-Targeted Nanoparticles Carrying Phenformin Decreases Lung Cancer Growth. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023:e2300080. [PMID: 37303292 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most fatal cancers worldwide. Resistance to conventional therapies remains a hindrance to patient treatment. Therefore, the development of more effective anti-cancer therapeutic strategies is imperative. Solid tumors exhibit a hyperglycolytic phenotype, leading to enhanced lactate production; and, consequently, its extrusion to the tumor microenvironment. Previous data reveals that inhibition of CD147, the chaperone of lactate transporters (MCTs), decreases lactate export in lung cancer cells and sensitizes them to phenformin, leading to a drastic decrease in cell growth. In this study, the development of anti-CD147 targeted liposomes (LUVs) carrying phenformin is envisioned, and their efficacy is evaluated to eliminate lung cancer cells. Herein, the therapeutic effect of free phenformin and anti-CD147 antibody, as well as the efficacy of anti-CD147 LUVs carrying phenformin on A549, H292, and PC-9 cell growth, metabolism, and invasion, are evaluated. Data reveals that phenformin decreases 2D and 3D-cancer cell growth and that the anti-CD147 antibody reduces cell invasion. Importantly, anti-CD147 LUVs carrying phenformin are internalized by cancer cells and impaired lung cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Overall, these results provide evidence for the effectiveness of anti-CD147 LUVs carrying phenformin in compromising lung cancer cell aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Pereira-Nunes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Helena Ferreira
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, Guimarães, 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Sara Abreu
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Marta Guedes
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, Guimarães, 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Nuno M Neves
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, Guimarães, 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Sara Granja
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- Department of Pathological, Cytological and Thanatological Anatomy, ESS|P.PORTO, Porto, 4200-072, Portugal
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Liu G, Li D, Zhang L, Xu Q, Zhuang D, Liu P, Hu L, Deng H, Sun J, Wang S, Zheng B, Guo J, Wu X. Phenformin Down-Regulates c-Myc Expression to Suppress the Expression of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Keratinocytes. Cells 2022; 11:cells11152429. [PMID: 35954273 PMCID: PMC9368166 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment of many skin inflammation diseases, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, is still a challenge and inflammation plays important roles in multiple stages of skin tumor development, including initiation, promotion and metastasis. Phenformin, a biguanide drug, has been shown to play a more efficient anti-tumor function than another well-known biguanide drug, metformin, which has been reported to control the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, little is known about the effects of phenformin on skin inflammation. This study used a mouse acute inflammation model, ex vivo skin organ cultures and in vitro human primary keratinocyte cultures to demonstrate that phenformin can suppress acute skin inflammatory responses induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in vivo and significantly suppresses the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 in human primary keratinocytes in vitro. The suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression by phenformin was not directly through regulation of the MAPK or NF-κB pathways, but by controlling the expression of c-Myc in human keratinocytes. We demonstrated that the overexpression of c-Myc can induce pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and counteract the suppressive effect of phenformin on cytokine expression in keratinocytes. In contrast, the down-regulation of c-Myc produces effects similar to phenformin, both in cytokine expression by keratinocytes in vitro and in skin inflammation in vivo. Finally, we showed that phenformin, as an AMPK activator, down-regulates the expression of c-Myc through regulation of the AMPK/mTOR pathways. In summary, phenformin inhibits the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in keratinocytes through the down-regulation of c-Myc expression to play an anti-inflammation function in the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyi Liu
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Department of Orthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Dingyang Li
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Department of Orthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Engineering Laboratory for Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, Savaid Stomatology School, Hangzhou Medical College, Ningbo 315000, China
| | - Liwei Zhang
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Department of Orthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Engineering Laboratory for Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, Savaid Stomatology School, Hangzhou Medical College, Ningbo 315000, China
| | - Qiuping Xu
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Department of Orthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Dexuan Zhuang
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Panpan Liu
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Department of Pediatrics Dentistry, Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Ling Hu
- Engineering Laboratory for Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, Savaid Stomatology School, Hangzhou Medical College, Ningbo 315000, China
| | - Huiting Deng
- Engineering Laboratory for Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, Savaid Stomatology School, Hangzhou Medical College, Ningbo 315000, China
| | - Jianfeng Sun
- Engineering Laboratory for Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, Savaid Stomatology School, Hangzhou Medical College, Ningbo 315000, China
| | - Shuangshuang Wang
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Bin Zheng
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Department of Orthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Engineering Laboratory for Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, Savaid Stomatology School, Hangzhou Medical College, Ningbo 315000, China
- Correspondence: (J.G.); (X.W.)
| | - Xunwei Wu
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, No. 44-1 Wenhua Road West, Jinan 250012, China
- Engineering Laboratory for Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Ningbo Stomatology Hospital, Savaid Stomatology School, Hangzhou Medical College, Ningbo 315000, China
- Correspondence: (J.G.); (X.W.)
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Tully E, Bharti S, Woo J, Bhujwalla Z, Gabrielson E. Biguanide drugs enhance cytotoxic effects of cisplatin by depleting aspartate and NAD+ in sensitive cancer cells. Cancer Biol Ther 2021; 22:579-586. [PMID: 34720054 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2021.1982599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Biguanide drugs (metformin and phenformin) have drawn interest for potential cancer treatments, and laboratory studies show that some cancer cells are selectively sensitive to growth-inhibitory effects of biguanides. Examining metabolic pathways affected by biguanide treatments in cancer cells that are highly sensitive to biguanides, we found that biguanide treatment depletes cellular levels of both aspartate and NAD+. Experiments to replenish these metabolites or block steps of the aspartate-malate shuttle suggest that depletion of both metabolites, rather than either aspartate of NAD+ individually, is critical for growth-inhibitory effects of biguanide exposure. Even in sensitive cancer cells, though, biguanide treatment alone over a broad range of doses only inhibits cell replication without significantly affecting cell viability. Noting that clinical observations of biguanide efficacy have used combinations of agents that typically include cisplatin, we found that biguanide treatment at a cytostatic level substantially decreases survival of lung cancer and breast cancer cells when co-treated with cisplatin at doses that alone are also non-cytotoxic. This striking enhancement of cisplatin toxicity by biguanides depends on reductions of levels of NAD+ and aspartate, since addition of either of these metabolites prevented this potentiation of cisplatin cytotoxicity. Thus, biguanide drugs can have cytotoxic effects when used in combination with other cancer drugs, such as cisplatin, and depleting cellular levels of NAD+ and aspartate is critical for enhancing the cytotoxicity of cisplatin by biguanide drugs in sensitive cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Tully
- The Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Santosh Bharti
- The Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Juhyung Woo
- The Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zaver Bhujwalla
- The Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,The Department of Oncology and the Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Edward Gabrielson
- The Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,The Department of Oncology and the Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Dołowy M, Jampilek J, Bober-Majnusz K. A Comparative Study of the Lipophilicity of Metformin and Phenformin. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26216613. [PMID: 34771022 PMCID: PMC8588420 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The results presented in this paper confirm the beneficial role of an easy-to-use and low-cost thin-layer chromatography (TLC) technique for describing the retention behavior and the experimental lipophilicity parameter of two biguanide derivatives, metformin and phenformin, in both normal-phase (NP) and reversed-phase (RP) TLC systems. The retention parameters (RF, RM) obtained under different chromatographic conditions, i.e., various stationary and mobile phases in the NP-TLC and RP-TLC systems, were used to determine the lipophilicity parameter (RMW) of metformin and phenformin. This study confirms the poor lipophilicity of both metformin and phenformin. It can be stated that the optimization of chromatographic conditions, i.e., the kind of stationary phase and the composition of mobile phase, was needed to obtain the reliable value of the chromatographic lipophilicity parameter (RMW) in this study. The fewer differences in the RMW values of both biguanide derivatives were ensured by the RP-TLC system composed of RP2, RP18, and RP18W plates and the mixture composed of methanol, propan-1-ol, and acetonitrile as an organic modifier compared to the NP-TLC analysis. The new calculation procedures for logP of drugs based on topological indices 0χν, 0χ, 1χν, M, and Mν may be a certain alternative to other algorithms as well as the TLC procedure performed under optimized chromatographic conditions. The knowledge of different lipophilicity parameters of the studied biguanides can be useful in the future design of novel and more therapeutically effective metformin and phenformin formulations for antidiabetic and possible anticancer treatment. Moreover, the topological indices presented in this work may be further used in the QSAR study of the examined biguanides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Dołowy
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellonska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;
- Correspondence: (M.D.); (J.J.)
| | - Josef Jampilek
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Correspondence: (M.D.); (J.J.)
| | - Katarzyna Bober-Majnusz
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellonska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;
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Jankeviciute S, Svirskiene N, Svirskis G, Borutaite V. Effects of Metformin on Spontaneous Ca 2+ Signals in Cultured Microglia Cells under Normoxic and Hypoxic Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9493. [PMID: 34502402 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglial functioning depends on Ca2+ signaling. By using Ca2+ sensitive fluorescence dye, we studied how inhibition of mitochondrial respiration changed spontaneous Ca2+ signals in soma of microglial cells from 5-7-day-old rats grown under normoxic and mild-hypoxic conditions. In microglia under normoxic conditions, metformin or rotenone elevated the rate and the amplitude of Ca2+ signals 10-15 min after drug application. Addition of cyclosporin A, a blocker of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), antioxidant trolox, or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) blocker caffeine in the presence of rotenone reduced the elevated rate and the amplitude of the signals implying sensitivity to reactive oxygen species (ROS), and involvement of mitochondrial mPTP together with IP3R. Microglial cells exposed to mild hypoxic conditions for 24 h showed elevated rate and increased amplitude of Ca2+ signals. Application of metformin or rotenone but not phenformin before mild hypoxia reduced this elevated rate. Thus, metformin and rotenone had the opposing fast action in normoxia after 10-15 min and the slow action during 24 h mild-hypoxia implying activation of different signaling pathways. The slow action of metformin through inhibition of complex I could stabilize Ca2+ homeostasis after mild hypoxia and could be important for reduction of ischemia-induced microglial activation.
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Abstract
Biguanides are a class of antidiabetic drugs that includes phenformin and metformin; however, the former was withdrawn from approval in many countries due to its toxicity. Findings from retrospective epidemiological studies in diabetic populations and preclinical laboratory models have demonstrated that biguanides possess antitumor activities that suggest their repurposing for cancer prevention and treatment. However, a better understanding of how these biguanides behave as antitumor agents is needed to guide their improved applications in cancer therapy, spurring increased interest in their pharmacology. Here, we present evidence for proposed mechanisms of action related to their antitumor activity, including their effects on central carbon metabolism in cancer cells and immune-modulating activity, and then review progress on biguanide repurposing in cancer therapeutics and the possible re-evaluation of phenformin as a cancer therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyun Zhao
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Kenneth D Swanson
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bin Zheng
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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9
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Wu T, Zhou S, Qin M, Tang J, Yan X, Huang L, Huang M, Deng J, Xiao D, Hu X, Wu J, Yang X, Li G. Phenformin and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated inhibitors synergistically co-suppress liver cancer cell growth by damaging mitochondria. FEBS Open Bio 2021; 11:1440-1451. [PMID: 33742560 PMCID: PMC8091576 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of ataxia–telangiectasia mutated (ATM), such as KU‐55933 (Ku), represent a promising class of novel anticancer drugs. In addition, the biguanide derivative phenformin exhibits antitumor activity superior to that of the AMPK activator metformin. Herein, we assessed the potential combinatorial therapeutic efficacy of phenformin and Ku when used to inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells, and we assessed the mechanisms underlying such efficacy. The Hep‐G2 and SMMC‐7721 liver cancer cell lines were treated with phenformin and Ku either alone or in combination, after which the impact of these drugs on cellular proliferation was assessed via 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol) 2, 5‐diphenyltetrazolium and colony formation assays, whereas Transwell assays were used to gauge cell migratory activity. The potential synergy between these two drugs was assessed using the compusyn software, while flow cytometry was employed to evaluate cellular apoptosis. In addition, western blotting was utilized to measure p‐ATM, p‐AMPK, p‐mTOR, and p‐p70s6k expression, while mitochondrial functionality was monitored via morphological analyses, JC‐1 staining, and measurements of ATP levels. Phenformin and Ku synergistically impacted the proliferation, migration, and apoptotic death of liver cancer cells. Together, these compounds were able to enhance AMPK phosphorylation while inhibiting the phosphorylation of mTOR and p70s6k. These data also revealed that phenformin and Ku induced mitochondrial dysfunction as evidenced by impaired ATP synthesis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and abnormal mitochondrial morphology. These findings suggest that combination treatment with phenformin and Ku may be an effective approach to treating liver cancer via damaging mitochondria within these tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Wu
- Department of Oncology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Sichun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Mei Qin
- Department of Gynecologists, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Jing Tang
- Department of Oncology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Xinjian Yan
- Department of Oncology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Lingli Huang
- Department of Oncology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Meiyuan Huang
- Department of Pathology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Jun Deng
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Di Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Jingtao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Gaofeng Li
- Department of Oncology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
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10
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Di Magno L, Manni S, Di Pastena F, Coni S, Macone A, Cairoli S, Sambucci M, Infante P, Moretti M, Petroni M, Nicoletti C, Capalbo C, De Smaele E, Di Marcotullio L, Giannini G, Battistini L, Goffredo BM, Iorio E, Agostinelli E, Maroder M, Canettieri G. Phenformin Inhibits Hedgehog-Dependent Tumor Growth through a Complex I-Independent Redox/Corepressor Module. Cell Rep 2021; 30:1735-1752.e7. [PMID: 32049007 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The antidiabetic drug phenformin displays potent anticancer activity in different tumors, but its mechanism of action remains elusive. Using Shh medulloblastoma as model, we show here that at clinically relevant concentrations, phenformin elicits a significant therapeutic effect through a redox-dependent but complex I-independent mechanism. Phenformin inhibits mitochondrial glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (mGPD), a component of the glycerophosphate shuttle, and causes elevations of intracellular NADH content. Inhibition of mGPD mimics phenformin action and promotes an association between corepressor CtBP2 and Gli1, thereby inhibiting Hh transcriptional output and tumor growth. Because ablation of CtBP2 abrogates the therapeutic effect of phenformin in mice, these data illustrate a biguanide-mediated redox/corepressor interplay, which may represent a relevant target for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Di Magno
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Manni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Di Pastena
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Sonia Coni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Macone
- Department of Biochemical Sciences A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Cairoli
- Division of Metabolism and Research Unit of metabolic Biochemistry, Children's Hospital and Research Institute Bambino Gesù IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Manolo Sambucci
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Neuroimmunology Unit, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Infante
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Moretti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marialaura Petroni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Capalbo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Di Marcotullio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Battistini
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Neuroimmunology Unit, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Bianca Maria Goffredo
- Division of Metabolism and Research Unit of metabolic Biochemistry, Children's Hospital and Research Institute Bambino Gesù IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Egidio Iorio
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Agostinelli
- Department of Biochemical Sciences A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; International Polyamines Foundation-ONLUS, 00159 Rome, Italy
| | - Marella Maroder
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Canettieri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; International Polyamines Foundation-ONLUS, 00159 Rome, Italy.
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11
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Masoud R, Reyes-Castellanos G, Lac S, Garcia J, Dou S, Shintu L, Abdel Hadi N, Gicquel T, El Kaoutari A, Diémé B, Tranchida F, Cormareche L, Borge L, Gayet O, Pasquier E, Dusetti N, Iovanna J, Carrier A. Targeting Mitochondrial Complex I Overcomes Chemoresistance in High OXPHOS Pancreatic Cancer. Cell Rep Med 2020; 1:100143. [PMID: 33294863 PMCID: PMC7691450 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2020.100143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial respiration (oxidative phosphorylation, OXPHOS) is an emerging target in currently refractory cancers such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the variability of energetic metabolic adaptations between PDAC patients has not been assessed in functional investigations. In this work, we demonstrate that OXPHOS rates are highly heterogeneous between patient tumors, and that high OXPHOS tumors are enriched in mitochondrial respiratory complex I at protein and mRNA levels. Therefore, we treated PDAC cells with phenformin (complex I inhibitor) in combination with standard chemotherapy (gemcitabine), showing that this treatment is synergistic specifically in high OXPHOS cells. Furthermore, phenformin cooperates with gemcitabine in high OXPHOS tumors in two orthotopic mouse models (xenografts and syngeneic allografts). In conclusion, this work proposes a strategy to identify PDAC patients likely to respond to the targeting of mitochondrial energetic metabolism in combination with chemotherapy, and that phenformin should be clinically tested in appropriate PDAC patient subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawand Masoud
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Gabriela Reyes-Castellanos
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Sophie Lac
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Julie Garcia
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Samir Dou
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Laetitia Shintu
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, ISM2, F-13013 Marseille, France
| | - Nadine Abdel Hadi
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Tristan Gicquel
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Abdessamad El Kaoutari
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Binta Diémé
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, ISM2, F-13013 Marseille, France
| | - Fabrice Tranchida
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, ISM2, F-13013 Marseille, France
| | - Laurie Cormareche
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Laurence Borge
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Odile Gayet
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Eddy Pasquier
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Nelson Dusetti
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Juan Iovanna
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
| | - Alice Carrier
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), F-13009 Marseille, France
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12
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Skemiene K, Rekuviene E, Jekabsone A, Cizas P, Morkuniene R, Borutaite V. Comparison of Effects of Metformin, Phenformin, and Inhibitors of Mitochondrial Complex I on Mitochondrial Permeability Transition and Ischemic Brain Injury. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10101400. [PMID: 33019635 PMCID: PMC7600544 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Damage to cerebral mitochondria, particularly opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), is a key mechanism of ischemic brain injury, therefore, modulation of MPTP may be a potential target for a neuroprotective strategy in ischemic brain pathologies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether biguanides-metformin and phenformin as well as other inhibitors of Complex I of the mitochondrial electron transfer system may protect against ischemia-induced cell death in brain slice cultures by suppressing MPTP, and whether the effects of these inhibitors depend on the age of animals. Experiments were performed on brain slice cultures prepared from 5-7-day (premature) and 2-3-month old (adult) rat brains. In premature brain slice cultures, simulated ischemia (hypoxia plus deoxyglucose) induced necrosis whereas in adult rat brain slice cultures necrosis was induced by hypoxia alone and was suppressed by deoxyglucose. Phenformin prevented necrosis induced by simulated ischemia in premature and hypoxia-induced-in adult brain slices, whereas metformin was protective in adult brain slices cultures. In premature brain slices, necrosis was also prevented by Complex I inhibitors rotenone and amobarbital and by MPTP inhibitor cyclosporine A. The latter two inhibitors were protective in adult brain slices as well. Short-term exposure of cultured neurons to phenformin, metformin and rotenone prevented ionomycin-induced MPTP opening in intact cells. The data suggest that, depending on the age, phenformin and metformin may protect the brain against ischemic damage possibly by suppressing MPTP via inhibition of mitochondrial Complex I.
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13
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Fey SJ, Korzeniowska B, Wrzesinski K. Response to and recovery from treatment in human liver-mimetic clinostat spheroids: a model for assessing repeated-dose drug toxicity. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2020; 9:379-389. [PMID: 32905230 PMCID: PMC7467243 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfaa033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicines are usually prescribed for repeated use over shorter or longer times. Unfortunately, repeated-dose animal toxicity studies do not correlate well with observations in man. As emphasized by the '3Rs' and the desire to phase-out animal research, in vitro models are needed. One potential approach uses clinostat-cultured 3D HepG2-C3A liver-mimetic spheroids. They take 18 days to recover in vivo physiological functionality and reach a metabolic equilibrium, which is thereafter stable for a year. Acute and chronic repeated-dose studies of six drugs (amiodarone, diclofenac, metformin, phenformin, paracetamol and valproic acid) suggest that spheroids are more predictive of human in vivo toxicity than either 2D-cultured HepG2 cells or primary human hepatocytes. Repeated non-lethal treatment results in a clear response and return to equilibrium. Mitochondrial toxic compounds can be identified using a galactose-based medium. Some drugs induced a protective (or stress) response that intensifies after the second treatment. This 3D spheroid model is inexpensive, highly reproducible and well-suited for the determination of repeated-dose toxicity of compounds (naturally or chemically synthesized).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Fey
- CelVivo ApS, Middelfartvej 469, DK-5491 Blommenslyst, Denmark
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14
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Khan H, Schieke SM. How to starve cancer cells when nutrients are abundant. Mol Cell Oncol 2020; 7:1718475. [PMID: 32158929 DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2020.1718475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic flexibility represents a potential point of attack for novel cancer treatments. We recently described the signaling mechanism inducing a metabolic shift in response to metformin and phenformin in leukemia and lymphoma cells. Enhanced glucose utilization was critically dependent on mitochondrial stress signaling/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α representing a therapeutic vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidullah Khan
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Stefan M Schieke
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
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15
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Takano K, Hachiya A, Murase D, Kawasaki A, Uda H, Kasamatsu S, Sugai Y, Takahashi Y, Hase T, Ohuchi A, Suzuki T. The Surprising Effect of Phenformin on Cutaneous Darkening and Characterization of Its Underlying Mechanism by a Forward Chemical Genetics Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1451. [PMID: 32093380 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanin in the epidermis is known to ultimately regulate human skin pigmentation. Recently, we exploited a phenotypic-based screening system composed of ex vivo human skin cultures to search for effective materials to regulate skin pigmentation. Since a previous study reported the potent inhibitory effect of metformin on melanogenesis, we evaluated several biguanide compounds. The unexpected effect of phenformin, once used as an oral anti-diabetic drug, on cutaneous darkening motivated us to investigate its underlying mechanism utilizing a chemical genetics approach, and especially to identify alternatives to phenformin because of its risk of severe lactic acidosis. Chemical pull-down assays with phenformin-immobilized beads were performed on lysates of human epidermal keratinocytes, and subsequent mass spectrometry identified 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7). Consistent with this, AY9944, an inhibitor of DHCR7, was found to decrease autophagic melanosome degradation in keratinocytes and to intensely darken skin in ex vivo cultures, suggesting the involvement of cholesterol biosynthesis in the metabolism of melanosomes. Thus, our results validated the combined utilization of the phenotypic screening system and chemical genetics as a new approach to develop promising materials for brightening/lightening and/or tanning technologies.
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16
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Thomas HE, Zhang Y, Stefely JA, Veiga SR, Thomas G, Kozma SC, Mercer CA. Mitochondrial Complex I Activity Is Required for Maximal Autophagy. Cell Rep 2020; 24:2404-2417.e8. [PMID: 30157433 PMCID: PMC6298213 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells adapt to nutrient and energy deprivation by inducing autophagy, which is regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and AMP-activated protein kinases (AMPKs). We found that cell metabolism significantly influences the ability to induce autophagy, with mitochondrial complex I function being an important factor in the initiation, amplitude, and duration of the response. We show that phenformin or genetic defects in complex I suppressed autophagy induced by mTOR inhibitors, whereas autophagy was enhanced by strategies that increased mitochondrial metabolism. We report that mTOR inhibitors significantly increased select phospholipids and mitochondrial-associated membranes (MAMs) in a complex I-dependent manner. We attribute the complex I autophagy defect to the inability to increase MAMs, limiting phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (PISD) activity and mitochondrial phosphatidylethanolamine (mtPE), which support autophagy. Our data reveal the dynamic and metabolic regulation of autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hala Elnakat Thomas
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan A Stefely
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sonia R Veiga
- Laboratory of Metabolism and Cancer, Catalan Institute of Oncology, ICO, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, IDIBELL, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - George Thomas
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Laboratory of Metabolism and Cancer, Catalan Institute of Oncology, ICO, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, IDIBELL, 08908 Barcelona, Spain; Unit de Biochemistry, Department of Physiological Sciences II, Faculty of Medicine, Campus Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, 08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sara C Kozma
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Laboratory of Metabolism and Cancer, Catalan Institute of Oncology, ICO, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, IDIBELL, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carol A Mercer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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17
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Coperchini F, Croce L, Denegri M, Awwad O, Ngnitejeu ST, Magri F, Chiovato L, Rotondi M. The anti-cancer effects of phenformin in thyroid cancer cell lines and in normal thyrocytes. Oncotarget 2019; 10:6432-43. [PMID: 31741708 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenformin is a biguanide drug which, besides the original anti-diabetic effect, also exerts anti-cancer effects. The aim of this study was to further characterize these latter in terms of both cell-viability and modulation of the secretion of the pro-tumorigenic chemokine CXCL8. Normal human thyrocytes in primary cultures (NHT) and thyroid cancer cell lines, TPC-1 and 8505C (RET/PTC and BRAFV600E mutated, respectively) were treated with increasing concentrations of phenformin at different times. Cell-viability was assessed by WST-1 and further characterized by AnnexinV/PI staining and cell proliferation colony-assay. CXCL8 levels were measured in cell supernatants. Phenformin reduced cell-viability in TPC-1 and 8505C and their ability to form colonies. In NHT cells, phenformin affected cell-viability only at the maximal dose but interestingly it inhibited CXCL8 secretion at all the concentrations not affecting cell-viability. Phenformin had no effect on CXCL8 secretion in thyroid cancer cell lines. Thus, phenformin exerts anti-cancer effects on both cancer cells (cell death induction) and surrounding normal cells (inhibition of CXCL8 secretion). These results highlight that the anti-cancer effects of phenformin are multifaceted and effective on both solid and soluble components of the tumor-microenvironment.
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18
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Peng M, Deng J, Zhou S, Xiao D, Long J, Zhang N, He C, Mo M, Yang X. Dual Inhibition of Pirarubicin-Induced AKT and ERK Activations by Phenformin Sensitively Suppresses Bladder Cancer Growth. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1159. [PMID: 31649535 PMCID: PMC6791928 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Activations of Akt or ERK pathway induced by clinical drugs promote therapeutic failure due to decrease of drug response, and no available strategies have been developed to solve these problems. In this study, we found that pirarubicin (THP), one important chemotherapeutic drug for treating bladder cancer intravesically, dramatically elevated phosphorylations of both Akt and Erk1/2 in addition to inducing DNA damage. MK2206 or AZD6244, representative Akt and Erk1/2 inhibitors, respectively, profoundly sensitized bladder cancer cells to THP treatment. Interestingly, we found that inhibition of a single arm of either Akt or Erk1/2 pathway would induce the increase of another arm, indicating the existence of the crosstalk between these two pathways. Thus, simultaneous suppression of both signals may be needed for increasing the sensitivity of THP. On the other hand, we revealed that phenformin efficiently inhibited both Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we demonstrated that phenformin, mimicking dual inhibitors, plays dramatically synergistic action with THP both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that combination therapy of THP with dual inhibitors may constitute a successful strategy for improving chemotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Peng
- Departments of Pharmacy and Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Jun Deng
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Sichun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Di Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiahui Long
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Caimei He
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Miao Mo
- Departments of Pharmacy and Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
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19
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Park JH, Kim YH, Park EH, Lee SJ, Kim H, Kim A, Lee SB, Shim S, Jang H, Myung JK, Park S, Lee SJ, Kim MJ. Effects of metformin and phenformin on apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in chemoresistant rectal cancer. Cancer Sci 2019; 110:2834-2845. [PMID: 31278880 PMCID: PMC6726705 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrence and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer remain important issues for patients treated with conventional therapeutics. Metformin and phenformin, previously used in the treatment of diabetes, have been shown to have anticancer effects in various cancers, including breast, lung and prostate cancers. However, their molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of these drugs in chemoresistant rectal cancer cell lines. We found that SW837 and SW1463 rectal cancer cells were more resistant to ionizing radiation and 5‐fluorouracil than HCT116 and LS513 colon cancer cells. In addition, metformin and phenformin increased the sensitivity of these cell lines by inhibiting cell proliferation, suppressing clonogenic ability and increasing apoptotic cell death in rectal cancer cells. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and transforming growth factor‐β/Smad signaling pathways were more activated in rectal cancer cells, and inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression using an inhibitor or siRNA sensitized rectal cancer cells to chemoresistant by inhibition of the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, such as X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis, survivin and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1. Moreover, metformin and phenformin inhibited cell migration and invasion by suppression of transforming growth factor β receptor 2‐mediated Snail and Twist expression in rectal cancer cells. Therefore, metformin and phenformin may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of chemoresistant rectal cancer by targeting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and transforming growth factor‐β/Smad signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hye Park
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young-Heon Kim
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Hyeh Park
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sun-Joo Lee
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyewon Kim
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Areumnuri Kim
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung Bum Lee
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sehwan Shim
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyosun Jang
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Kyung Myung
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea.,Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sunhoo Park
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea.,Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su-Jae Lee
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min Jung Kim
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure & Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Science, Seoul, Korea
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20
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Kuo CL, Hsieh Li SM, Liang SY, Liu ST, Huang LC, Wang WM, Yen LC, Huang SM. The antitumor properties of metformin and phenformin reflect their ability to inhibit the actions of differentiated embryo chondrocyte 1. Cancer Manag Res 2019; 11:6567-6579. [PMID: 31410055 PMCID: PMC6643064 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s210637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Differentiated embryo chondrocyte 1 (DEC1) is a helix-loop-helix transcription factor that directly binds to the class B E-box in target genes. DEC1 exerts both pro-survival and pro-apoptotic effects in a cell- and tissue-dependent manner. Its actions play role the progression of cancer remains unclear. Methods We first examined the functional roles of DEC1 using the transient promoter reporter assay. Then, the knockdown of DEC1 expression was performed with the short hairpin RNA strategy in HeLa and A2058 cancer cell lines to check the cell cycle and mitochondrial function profile using the flow cytometry and Seahorse assays. We later clarified the role of DEC1 in the tumorigenesis using the colony formation, anchorage-independent growth assay, and cellular proliferation analysis. Results In the present study, we tested two guanide-containing drugs, metformin and phenformin, and found that both exhibit cytotoxicity against HeLa cervical carcinoma and A2058 melanoma cells. This effect was mediated, at least in part, through activation of the AMPK pathway; degradation of important cellular proteins, such as DEC1 and p53; and suppression of mitochondrial function, colony formation, and anchorage-independent cell proliferation. Our results further suggest that the cytotoxicity of metformin and phenformin reflect the impact of the repressive actions of DEC1 on gene expression, including DEC1 itself. This in turn suppresses both anchorage-independent growth and cell proliferation. Conclusion These findings provide several lines of evidence suggesting that DEC1 activity contributes to tumorigenicity and that the antitumor properties of biguanides reflect their ability to inhibit DEC1 functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Lin Kuo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shu-Man Hsieh Li
- Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shu-Yi Liang
- Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shu-Ting Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Li-Chun Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Wei-Ming Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Li-Chen Yen
- Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shih-Ming Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China
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21
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García Rubiño ME, Carrillo E, Ruiz Alcalá G, Domínguez-Martín A, A Marchal J, Boulaiz H. Phenformin as an Anticancer Agent: Challenges and Prospects. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3316. [PMID: 31284513 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, there is increasing evidence linking diabetes mellitus (especially type 2 diabetes mellitus) with carcinogenesis through various biological processes, such as fat-induced chronic inflammation, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and angiogenesis. Chemotherapeutic agents are used in the treatment of cancer, but in most cases, patients develop resistance. Phenformin, an oral biguanide drug used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, was removed from the market due to a high risk of fatal lactic acidosis. However, it has been shown that phenformin is, with other biguanides, an authentic tumor disruptor, not only by the production of hypoglycemia due to caloric restriction through AMP-activated protein kinase with energy detection (AMPK) but also as a blocker of the mTOR regulatory complex. Moreover, the addition of phenformin eliminates resistance to antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), which prevent the uncontrolled metabolism of glucose in tumor cells. In this review, we evidence the great potential of phenformin as an anticancer agent. We thoroughly review its mechanism of action and clinical trial assays, specially focusing on current challenges and future perspectives of this promising drug.
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22
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Vara-Ciruelos D, Dandapani M, Russell FM, Grzes KM, Atrih A, Foretz M, Viollet B, Lamont DJ, Cantrell DA, Hardie DG. Phenformin, But Not Metformin, Delays Development of T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma via Cell-Autonomous AMPK Activation. Cell Rep 2019; 27:690-698.e4. [PMID: 30995468 PMCID: PMC6484776 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AMPK acts downstream of the tumor suppressor LKB1, yet its role in cancer has been controversial. AMPK is activated by biguanides, such as metformin and phenformin, and metformin use in diabetics has been associated with reduced cancer risk. However, whether this is mediated by cell-autonomous AMPK activation within tumor progenitor cells has been unclear. We report that T-cell-specific loss of AMPK-α1 caused accelerated growth of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL) induced by PTEN loss in thymic T cell progenitors. Oral administration of phenformin, but not metformin, delayed onset and growth of lymphomas, but only when T cells expressed AMPK-α1. This differential effect of biguanides correlated with detection of phenformin, but not metformin, in thymus. Phenformin also enhanced apoptosis in T-ALL cells both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, AMPK-α1 can be a cell-autonomous tumor suppressor in the context of T-ALL, and phenformin may have potential for the prevention of some cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Vara-Ciruelos
- Division of Cell Signalling & Immunology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Madhumita Dandapani
- Division of Cell Signalling & Immunology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Fiona M Russell
- Division of Cell Signalling & Immunology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Katarzyna M Grzes
- Division of Cell Signalling & Immunology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Abdelmadjid Atrih
- Fingerprints Proteomics Facility, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Marc Foretz
- Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France; CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris cité, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Viollet
- Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France; CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris cité, Paris, France
| | - Douglas J Lamont
- Fingerprints Proteomics Facility, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Doreen A Cantrell
- Division of Cell Signalling & Immunology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - D Grahame Hardie
- Division of Cell Signalling & Immunology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.
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23
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de Mey S, Jiang H, Corbet C, Wang H, Dufait I, Law K, Bastien E, Verovski V, Gevaert T, Feron O, De Ridder M. Antidiabetic Biguanides Radiosensitize Hypoxic Colorectal Cancer Cells Through a Decrease in Oxygen Consumption. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1073. [PMID: 30337872 PMCID: PMC6178882 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose: The anti-diabetic biguanide drugs metformin and phenformin exhibit antitumor activity in various models. However, their radiomodulatory effect under hypoxic conditions, particularly for phenformin, is largely unknown. This study therefore examines whether metformin and phenformin as mitochondrial complex I blockades could overcome hypoxic radioresistance through inhibition of oxygen consumption. Materials and Methods: A panel of colorectal cancer cells (HCT116, DLD-1, HT29, SW480, and CT26) was exposed to metformin or phenformin for 16 h at indicated concentrations. Afterward, cell viability was measured by MTT and colony formation assays. Apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry. Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was examined by western blot. Mitochondria complexes activity and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) were measured by seahorse analyzer. The radiosensitivity of tumor cells was assessed by colony formation assay under aerobic and hypoxic conditions. The in vitro findings were further validated in colorectal CT26 tumor model. Results: Metformin and phenformin inhibited mitochondrial complex I activity and subsequently reduced OCR in a dose-dependent manner starting at 3 mM and 30 μM, respectively. As a result, the hypoxic radioresistance of tumor cells was counteracted by metformin and phenformin with an enhancement ratio about 2 at 9 mM and 100 μM, respectively. Regarding intrinsic radioresistance, both of them did not exhibit any effect although there was an increase of phosphorylation of AMPK and ROS production. In tumor-bearing mice, metformin or phenformin alone did not show any anti-tumor effect. While in combination with radiation, both of them substantially delayed tumor growth and enhanced radioresponse, respectively, by 1.3 and 1.5-fold. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that metformin and phenformin overcome hypoxic radioresistance through inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, and provide a rationale to explore metformin and phenformin as hypoxic radiosensitizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven de Mey
- Department of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Heng Jiang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cyril Corbet
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Inès Dufait
- Department of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kalun Law
- Department of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Estelle Bastien
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Valeri Verovski
- Department of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thierry Gevaert
- Department of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Feron
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mark De Ridder
- Department of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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24
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Wang Y, Meng Y, Zhang S, Wu H, Yang D, Nie C, Hu Q. Phenformin and metformin inhibit growth and migration of LN229 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:6039-6048. [PMID: 30275708 PMCID: PMC6157995 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s168981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malignant glioma is refractory to conventional treatment, highlighting a need to develop novel efficacious therapies. Biguanides, a class of oral antidiabetic drug, have been thought to inhibit proliferation and metastasis in a variety of cancers. Purpose The objective of this study was to investigate the affections of biguanides, phenformin (Phen) and metformin (Met), on growth and migration of glioma cells LN229 in vitro and in vivo. Methods Glioma cells LN229 were treated with Phen or Met, then cell proliferation and death were evaluated by MTT assay and PI stain, and cell cycle were evaluated using flow cytometric analysis, meantime wound healing assay and transwell migration assay were performed to detect cell migration ability. In addition, LN229 were injected in thigh of nude mice, and the mice were treated with Phen or Met to detect the effect of Phen and Met in vivo. Results Phen and Met could significantly inhibit cell growth through inhibiting cell proliferation, promoting cell death and disturbing cell cycle, and these drugs also could inhibit cell colony formation in glioma cells LN229 in vitro. Meanwhile, both Phen and Met could significantly inhibit cell migration of LN229 in vitro, through effecting the expression of E-cadherin and Vimentin. In addition, both Phen and Met inhibited the growth and migration of LN229 in a tumor xenograft model. Furthermore, Phen and Met were associated with the increased level of ROS of cell mitochondrial, and ROS inhibitor NAC could significantly rescue the cell death induced by Phen and Met. Conclusion Phen and Met displayed powerful antitumor effects of LN229, and our findings powerfully suggest the possibility of Phen and Met being used as an adjuvant agent in the treatment of glioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmin Wang
- Department of Cerebral Surgery, Tianjin Beichen Hospital, Tianjin 300000, People's Republic of China,
| | - Yanli Meng
- Library, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shijun Zhang
- Department of Cerebral Surgery, Tianjin Beichen Hospital, Tianjin 300000, People's Republic of China,
| | - Huancheng Wu
- Department of Cerebral Surgery, Tianjin Beichen Hospital, Tianjin 300000, People's Republic of China,
| | - Dawei Yang
- Department of Cerebral Surgery, Tianjin Beichen Hospital, Tianjin 300000, People's Republic of China,
| | - Chaohui Nie
- Department of Cerebral Surgery, Tianjin Beichen Hospital, Tianjin 300000, People's Republic of China,
| | - Qunliang Hu
- Department of Cerebral Surgery, Tianjin Beichen Hospital, Tianjin 300000, People's Republic of China,
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25
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Abstract
In the 1920s, guanidine, the active component of Galega officinalis, was shown to lower glucose levels and used to synthesize several antidiabetic compounds. Metformin (1,1 dimethylbiguanide) is the most well-known and currently the only marketed biguanide in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia for the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Although phenformin was removed from the US market in the 1970s, it is still available around the world and can be found in unregulated herbal supplements. Adverse events associated with therapeutic use of biguanides include gastrointestinal upset, vitamin B12 deficiency, and hemolytic anemia. Although the incidence is low, metformin toxicity can lead to hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis. Since metformin is predominantly eliminated from the body by the kidneys, toxicity can occur when metformin accumulates due to poor clearance from renal insufficiency or in the overdose setting. The dominant source of metabolic acidosis associated with hyperlactatemia in metformin toxicity is the rapid cytosolic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) turnover when complex I is inhibited and oxidative phosphorylation cannot adequately recycle the vast quantity of H+ from ATP hydrolysis. Although metabolic acidosis and hyperlactatemia are markers of metformin toxicity, the degree of hyperlactatemia and severity of acidemia have not been shown to be of prognostic value. Regardless of the etiology of toxicity, treatment should include supportive care and consideration for adjunct therapies such as gastrointestinal decontamination, glucose and insulin, alkalinization, extracorporeal techniques to reduce metformin body burden, and metabolic rescue.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Sam Wang
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christopher Hoyte
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA
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26
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Somlyai G, Collins TQ, Meuillet EJ, Hitendra P, D'Agostino DP, Boros LG. Structural homologies between phenformin, lipitor and gleevec aim the same metabolic oncotarget in leukemia and melanoma. Oncotarget 2018; 8:50187-50192. [PMID: 28418852 PMCID: PMC5564842 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenformin's recently demonstrated efficacy in melanoma and Gleevec's demonstrated anti-proliferative action in chronic myeloid leukemia may lie within these drugs' significant pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and structural homologies, which are reviewed herein. Gleevec's success in turning a fatal leukemia into a manageable chronic disease has been trumpeted in medical, economic, political and social circles because it is considered the first successful targeted therapy. Investments have been immense in omics analyses and while in some cases they greatly helped the management of patients, in others targeted therapies failed to achieve clinically stable recurrence-free disease course or to substantially extend survival. Nevertheless protein kinase controlling approaches have persisted despite early warnings that the targeted genomics narrative is overblown. Experimental and clinical observations with Phenformin suggest an alternative explanation for Gleevec's mode of action. Using 13C-guided precise flux measurements, a comparative multiple cell line study demonstrated the drug's downstream impact on submolecular fatty acid processing metabolic events that occurred independent of Gleevec's molecular target. Clinical observations that hyperlipidemia and diabetes are both reversed in mice and in patients taking Gleevec support the drugs' primary metabolic targets by biguanides and statins. This is evident by structural data demonstrating that Gleevec shows pyridine- and phenyl-guanidine homology with Phenformin and identical phenylcarbamoyl structural and ligand binding homology with Lipitor. The misunderstood mechanism of action of Gleevec is emblematic of the pervasive flawed reasoning that genomic analysis will lead to targeted, personalized diagnosis and therapy. The alternative perspective for Gleevec's mode of action may turn oncotargets towards metabolic channel reaction architectures in leukemia and melanoma, as well as in other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Somlyai
- HYD, LLC for Cancer Research & Drug Development, Budapest, Hungary, European Union
| | - T Que Collins
- CignatureHealth Metabolic Clinic, Santa Monica, CA, USA.,EPIGENIX Foundation, El Segundo, CA, USA
| | | | - Patel Hitendra
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dominic P D'Agostino
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, Hyperbaric Biomedical Research Laboratory, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - László G Boros
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Westwood, CA, USA.,Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LABIOMED) at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA.,SiDMAP, LLC, Culver City, CA, USA.,UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Torrance, CA, USA
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27
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Affiliation(s)
- Lev M Berstein
- a Laboratory of Oncoendocrinology , N.N.Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology , St.Petersburg , Russia
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28
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Kang JH, Lee SH, Lee JS, Nam B, Seong TW, Son J, Jang H, Hong KM, Lee C, Kim SY. Aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibition combined with phenformin treatment reversed NSCLC through ATP depletion. Oncotarget 2018; 7:49397-49410. [PMID: 27384481 PMCID: PMC5226516 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Among ALDH isoforms, ALDH1L1 in the folate pathway showed highly increased expression in non-small-cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC). Based on the basic mechanism of ALDH converting aldehyde to carboxylic acid with by-product NADH, we suggested that ALDH1L1 may contribute to ATP production using NADH through oxidative phosphorylation. ALDH1L1 knockdown reduced ATP production by up to 60% concomitantly with decrease of NADH in NSCLC. ALDH inhibitor, gossypol, also reduced ATP production in a dose dependent manner together with decrease of NADH level in NSCLC. A combination treatment of gossypol with phenformin, mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, synergized ATP depletion, which efficiently induced cell death. Pre-clinical xenograft model using human NSCLC demonstrated a remarkable therapeutic response to the combined treatment of gossypol and phenformin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Hee Kang
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do 410-769, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Hyeong Lee
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do 410-769, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Seon Lee
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do 410-769, Republic of Korea
| | - Boas Nam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Wha Seong
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do 410-769, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaekyoung Son
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyonchol Jang
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do 410-769, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Man Hong
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do 410-769, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolju Lee
- Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-333, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Youl Kim
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do 410-769, Republic of Korea
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29
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Jiang W, Finniss S, Cazacu S, Xiang C, Brodie Z, Mikkelsen T, Poisson L, Shackelford DB, Brodie C. Repurposing phenformin for the targeting of glioma stem cells and the treatment of glioblastoma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:56456-56470. [PMID: 27486821 PMCID: PMC5302927 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor with poor prognosis. Here, we studied the effects of phenformin, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor and more potent chemical analog of the diabetes drug metformin on the inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis of glioma stem cells (GSCs) using both in vitro and in vivo models. Phenformin inhibited the self-renewal of GSCs, decreased the expression of stemness and mesenchymal markers and increased the expression of miR-124, 137 and let-7. Silencing of let-7 abrogated phenformin effects on the self-renewal of GSCs via a pathway associated with inhibition of H19 and HMGA2 expression. Moreover, we demonstrate that phenformin inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the overall survival of mice orthotopically transplanted with GSCs. Combined treatments of phenformin and temozolomide exerted an increased antitumor effect on GSCs in vitro and in vivo. In addition, dichloroacetate, an inhibitor of the glycolysis enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, that decreases lactic acidosis induced by biguanides, enhanced phenformin effects on the induction of cell death in GSCs and prolonged the survival of xenograft-bearing mice. Our results demonstrate for the first time that phenformin targets GSCs and can be efficiently combined with current therapies for GBM treatment and GSC eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Jiang
- Davidson Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Susan Finniss
- Davidson Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Simona Cazacu
- Davidson Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Cunli Xiang
- Davidson Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ziv Brodie
- Davidson Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tom Mikkelsen
- Davidson Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Laila Poisson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - David B Shackelford
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chaya Brodie
- Davidson Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.,Everard and Mina Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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30
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Petrachi T, Romagnani A, Albini A, Longo C, Argenziano G, Grisendi G, Dominici M, Ciarrocchi A, Dallaglio K. Therapeutic potential of the metabolic modulator phenformin in targeting the stem cell compartment in melanoma. Oncotarget 2018; 8:6914-6928. [PMID: 28036292 PMCID: PMC5351679 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most dangerous and treatment-resistant skin cancer. Tumor resistance and recurrence are due to the persistence in the patient of aggressive cells with stem cell features, the cancer stem cells (CSC). Recent evidences have shown that CSC display a distinct metabolic profile as compared to tumor bulk population: a promising anti-tumor strategy is therefore to target specific metabolic pathways driving CSC behavior. Biguanides (metformin and phenformin) are anti-diabetic drugs able to perturb cellular metabolism and displaying anti-cancer activity. However, their ability to target the CSC compartment in melanoma is not known. Here we show that phenformin, but not metformin, strongly reduces melanoma cell viability, growth and invasion in both 2D and 3D (spheroids) models. While phenformin decreases melanoma CSC markers expression and the levels of the pro-survival factor MITF, MITF overexpression fails to prevent phenformin effects. Phenformin significantly reduces cell viability in melanoma by targeting both CSC (ALDHhigh) and non-CSC cells and by significantly reducing the number of viable cells in ALDHhigh and ALDHlow-derived spheroids. Consistently, phenformin reduces melanoma cell viability and growth independently from SOX2 levels. Our results show that phenformin is able to affect both CSC and non-CSC melanoma cell viability and growth and suggests its potential use as anti-cancer therapy in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Petrachi
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Department of Scientific Direction, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Romagnani
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Department of Scientific Direction, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Adriana Albini
- Scientific and Technologic Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Longo
- Skin Cancer Unit, IRCCS-Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Argenziano
- Skin Cancer Unit, IRCCS-Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.,Dermatology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giulia Grisendi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Massimo Dominici
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Alessia Ciarrocchi
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Department of Scientific Direction, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Katiuscia Dallaglio
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Department of Scientific Direction, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
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31
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Velez J, Pan R, Lee JT, Enciso L, Suarez M, Duque JE, Jaramillo D, Lopez C, Morales L, Bornmann W, Konopleva M, Krystal G, Andreeff M, Samudio I. Biguanides sensitize leukemia cells to ABT-737-induced apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transport. Oncotarget 2016; 7:51435-49. [PMID: 27283492 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin displays antileukemic effects partly due to activation of AMPK and subsequent inhibition of mTOR signaling. Nevertheless, Metformin also inhibits mitochondrial electron transport at complex I in an AMPK-independent manner, Here we report that Metformin and rotenone inhibit mitochondrial electron transport and increase triglyceride levels in leukemia cell lines, suggesting impairment of fatty acid oxidation (FAO). We also report that, like other FAO inhibitors, both agents and the related biguanide, Phenformin, increase sensitivity to apoptosis induction by the bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 supporting the notion that electron transport antagonizes activation of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in leukemia cells. Both biguanides and rotenone induce superoxide generation in leukemia cells, indicating that oxidative damage may sensitize toABT-737 induced apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrate that Metformin sensitizes leukemia cells to the oligomerization of Bak, suggesting that the observed synergy with ABT-737 is mediated, at least in part, by enhanced outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization. Notably, Phenformin was at least 10-fold more potent than Metformin in abrogating electron transport and increasing sensitivity to ABT-737, suggesting that this agent may be better suited for targeting hematological malignancies. Taken together, our results suggest that inhibition of mitochondrial metabolism by Metformin or Phenformin is associated with increased leukemia cell susceptibility to induction of intrinsic apoptosis, and provide a rationale for clinical studies exploring the efficacy of combining biguanides with the orally bioavailable derivative of ABT-737, Venetoclax.
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32
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Abstract
Metformin is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Numerous reports have suggested potential anti-cancerous and cancer preventive properties of metformin, although these findings vary depending on the intrinsic properties of the tumor, as well as the systemic physiology of patients. These intriguing studies have led to a renewed interest in metformin use in the oncology setting, and fueled research to unveil its elusive mode of action. It is now appreciated that metformin inhibits complex I of the electron transport chain in mitochondria, causing bioenergetic stress in cancer cells, and rendering them dependent on glycolysis for ATP production. Understanding the mode of action of metformin and the consequences of its use on cancer cell bioenergetics permits the identification of cancer types most susceptible to metformin action. Such knowledge may also shed light on the varying results to metformin usage that have been observed in clinical trials. In this review, we discuss metabolic profiles of cancer cells that are associated with metformin sensitivity, and rationalize combinatorial treatment options. We use the concept of bioenergetic flexibility, which has recently emerged in the field of cancer cell metabolism, to further understand metabolic rearrangements that occur upon metformin treatment. Finally, we advance the notion that metabolic fitness of cancer cells increases during progression to metastatic disease and the emergence of therapeutic resistance. As a result, sophisticated combinatorial approaches that prevent metabolic compensatory mechanisms will be required to effectively manage metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Andrzejewski
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Peter M. Siegel
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Julie St-Pierre
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Julie St-Pierre
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Jackson AL, Sun W, Kilgore J, Guo H, Fang Z, Yin Y, Jones HM, Gilliam TP, Zhou C, Bae-Jump VL. Phenformin has anti-tumorigenic effects in human ovarian cancer cells and in an orthotopic mouse model of serous ovarian cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:100113-100127. [PMID: 29245964 PMCID: PMC5725006 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity and diabetes have been associated with increased risk and worse outcomes in ovarian cancer (OC). The biguanide metformin is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and is also believed to have anti-tumorigenic benefits. Metformin is highly hydrophilic and requires organic cation transporters (OCTs) for entry into human cells. Phenformin, another biguanide, was taken off the market due to an increased risk of lactic acidosis over metformin. However, phenformin is not reliant on transporters for cell entry; and thus, may have increased potency as both an anti-diabetic and anti-tumorigenic agent than metformin. Thus, our goal was to evaluate the effect of phenformin on established OC cell lines, primary cultures of human OC cells and in an orthotopic mouse model of high grade serous OC. In three OC cell lines, phenformin significantly inhibited cellular proliferation, induced cell cycle G1 arrest and apoptosis, caused cellular stress, inhibited adhesion and invasion, and activation of AMPK and inhibition of the mTOR pathway. Phenformin also exerted anti-proliferative effects in seven primary cell cultures of human OC. Lastly, phenformin inhibited tumor growth in an orthotopic mouse model of serous OC, coincident with decreased Ki-67 staining and phosphorylated-S6 expression and increased expression of caspase 3 and phosphorylated-AMPK. Our findings demonstrate that phenformin has anti-tumorigenic effects in OC as previously demonstrated by metformin but it is yet to be determined if it is superior to metformin for the potential treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L. Jackson
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Wenchuan Sun
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Joshua Kilgore
- Houston Methodist Gynecologic Oncology Associates, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hui Guo
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital & Institute, Jinan, P.R. China
| | - Ziwei Fang
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yajie Yin
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hannah M. Jones
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Timothy P. Gilliam
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Chunxiao Zhou
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Victoria L. Bae-Jump
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Andrzejewski S, Klimcakova E, Johnson RM, Tabariès S, Annis MG, McGuirk S, Northey JJ, Chénard V, Sriram U, Papadopoli DJ, Siegel PM, St-Pierre J. PGC-1α Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis and Confers Bioenergetic Flexibility against Metabolic Drugs. Cell Metab 2017; 26:778-787.e5. [PMID: 28988825 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic adaptations play a key role in fueling tumor growth. However, less is known regarding the metabolic changes that promote cancer progression to metastatic disease. Herein, we reveal that breast cancer cells that preferentially metastasize to the lung or bone display relatively high expression of PGC-1α compared with those that metastasize to the liver. PGC-1α promotes breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and augments lung metastasis in vivo. Pro-metastatic capabilities of PGC-1α are linked to enhanced global bioenergetic capacity, facilitating the ability to cope with bioenergetic disruptors like biguanides. Indeed, biguanides fail to mitigate the PGC-1α-dependent lung metastatic phenotype and PGC-1α confers resistance to stepwise increases in metformin concentration. Overall, our results reveal that PGC-1α stimulates bioenergetic potential, which promotes breast cancer metastasis and facilitates adaptation to metabolic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Andrzejewski
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Eva Klimcakova
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Radia M Johnson
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Sébastien Tabariès
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Matthew G Annis
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Shawn McGuirk
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Jason J Northey
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Valérie Chénard
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Urshila Sriram
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - David J Papadopoli
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Peter M Siegel
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Julie St-Pierre
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada.
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35
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Geoghegan F, Chadderton N, Farrar GJ, Zisterer DM, Porter RK. Direct effects of phenformin on metabolism/bioenergetics and viability of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Oncol Lett 2017; 14:6298-6306. [PMID: 29113281 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenformin, a member of the biguanides class of drugs, has been reported to be efficacious in cancer treatment. The focus of the current study was to establish whether there were direct effects of phenformin on the metabolism and bioenergetics of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cancer cells. Cell viability was assessed using the alamar blue assay, flow cytometry analysis using propidium iodide and annexin V stain and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase analysis. Cellular and mitochondrial oxygen consumption was determined using a Seahorse Bioscience Flux analyser and an Oroboros Oxygraph respirometer. Cells were transfected using electroporation and permeabilized for in situ mitochondrial functional analysis using digitonin. Standard protocols were used for immunoblotting and proteins were separated on denaturing gels. Phenformin was effective in reducing the viability of SH-SY5Y cells, causing G1 cell cycle arrest and inducing apoptosis. Bioenergetic analysis demonstrated that phenformin significantly decreased oxygen consumption in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The sensitivity of oxygen consumption in SH-SY5Y cells to phenformin was circumvented by the expression of NADH-quinone oxidoreductase 1, a ubiquinone oxidoreductase, suggesting that complex I may be a target of phenformin. As a result of this inhibition, adenosine monophosphate protein kinase is activated and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase is inhibited. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to demonstrate the efficacy and underlying mechanism by which phenformin directly effects the survival of neuroblastoma cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fintan Geoghegan
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 R590, Republic of Ireland
| | - Naomi Chadderton
- Ocular Genetics Unit, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 R590, Republic of Ireland
| | - G Jane Farrar
- Ocular Genetics Unit, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 R590, Republic of Ireland
| | - Daniela M Zisterer
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 R590, Republic of Ireland
| | - Richard K Porter
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 R590, Republic of Ireland
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Zhang J, Nannapaneni S, Wang D, Liu F, Wang X, Jin R, Liu X, Rahman MA, Peng X, Qian G, Chen ZG, Wong KK, Khuri FR, Zhou W, Shin DM. Phenformin enhances the therapeutic effect of selumetinib in KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer irrespective of LKB1 status. Oncotarget 2017; 8:59008-59022. [PMID: 28938614 PMCID: PMC5601710 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
MEK inhibition is potentially valuable in targeting KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we analyzed whether concomitant LKB1 mutation alters sensitivity to the MEK inhibitor selumetinib, and whether the metabolism drug phenformin can enhance the therapeutic effect of selumetinib in isogenic cell lines with different LKB1 status. Isogenic pairs of KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell lines A549, H460 and H157, each with wild-type and null LKB1, as well as genetically engineered mouse-derived cell lines 634 (krasG12D/wt/p53-/-/lkb1wt/wt) and t2 (krasG12D/wt/p53-/-/lkb1-/-) were used in vitro to analyze the activities of selumetinib, phenformin and their combination. Synergy was measured and potential mechanisms investigated. The in vitro findings were then confirmed in vivo using xenograft models. The re-expression of wild type LKB1 increased phospho-ERK level, suggesting that restored dependency on MEK->ERK->MAPK signaling might have contributed to the enhanced sensitivity to selumetinib. In contrast, the loss of LKB1 sensitized cells to phenformin. At certain combination ratios, phenformin and selumetinib showed synergistic activity regardless of LKB1 status. Their combination reduced phospho-ERK and S6 levels and induced potent apoptosis, but was likely through different mechanisms in cells with different LKB1 status. Finally, in xenograft models bearing isogenic A549 cells, we confirmed that loss of LKB1 confers resistance to selumetinib, and phenformin significantly enhances the therapeutic effect of selumetinib. Irrespective of LKB1 status, phenformin may enhance the anti-tumor effect of selumetinib in KRAS-mutant NSCLC. The dual targeting of MEK and cancer metabolism may provide a useful strategy to treat this subset of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.,Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Sreenivas Nannapaneni
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Fakeng Liu
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Xu Wang
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Rui Jin
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Xiuju Liu
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | - Xianghong Peng
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Guoqing Qian
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Zhuo G Chen
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Dana Building 810B, HIM243, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Fadlo R Khuri
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Dong M Shin
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Guo Z, Zhao M, Howard EW, Zhao Q, Parris AB, Ma Z, Yang X. Phenformin inhibits growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells through targeting the IGF1R pathway. Oncotarget 2017; 8:60342-60357. [PMID: 28947975 PMCID: PMC5601143 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Reports suggest that metformin, a popular anti-diabetes drug, prevents breast cancer through various systemic effects, including insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR) regulation. Although the anti-cancer properties of metformin have been well-studied, reports on a more bioavailable/potent biguanide, phenformin, remain sparse. Phenformin exerts similar functional activity to metformin and has been reported to impede mammary carcinogenesis in rats. Since the effects of phenformin on specific breast cancer subtypes have not been fully explored, we used ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cell and animal models to test the anti-cancer potential of phenformin. We report that phenformin (25-75 μM) decreased cell proliferation and impaired cell cycle progression in SKBR3 and 78617 breast cancer cells. Reduced tumor size after phenformin treatment (30 mg/kg/day) was demonstrated in an MMTV-ErbB2 transgenic mouse syngeneic tumor model. Phenformin also blocked epithelial-mesenchymal transition, decreased the invasive phenotype, and suppressed receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, including insulin receptor substrate 1 and IGF1R, in ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells and mouse mammary tumor-derived tissues. Moreover, phenformin suppressed IGF1-stimulated proliferation, receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in vitro. Together, our study implicates phenformin-mediated IGF1/IGF1R regulation as a potential anti-cancer mechanism and supports the development of phenformin and other biguanides as breast cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Guo
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ming Zhao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erin W Howard
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Qingxia Zhao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amanda B Parris
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Zhikun Ma
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
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38
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Zhang
- a Department of Cancer Biology , Wake Forest University School of Medicine Medical Center Blvd , Winston-Salem , NC , USA
| | - Hui-Kuan Lin
- a Department of Cancer Biology , Wake Forest University School of Medicine Medical Center Blvd , Winston-Salem , NC , USA.,b Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University , Taichung , Taiwan.,c Center for Molecular Medicine and Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology, China Medical University , Taichung , Taiwan
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Abstract
Biguanides, including metformin (widely used in diabetes treatment) and phenformin, are AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators and potential drugs for cancer treatment. A more in-depth understanding of how cancer cells adapt to biguanide treatment may provide important therapeutic implications to achieve more effective and rational cancer therapies. NBR2 is a glucose starvation-induced long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that interacts with AMPK and regulates AMPK activity upon glucose starvation. Here we show that phenformin treatment induces NBR2 expression, and NBR2 deficiency sensitizes cancer cells to phenformin-induced cell death. Surprisingly, unlike glucose starvation, phenformin does not induce NBR2 interaction with AMPK, and correspondingly, NBR2 deficiency does not affect phenformin-induced AMPK activation. We further reveal that NBR2 depletion attenuates phenformin-induced glucose transporter GLUT1 expression and glucose uptake. GLUT1 deficiency sensitizes cancer cells to phenformin-induced cell death, whereas GLUT1 restoration in NBR2 deficient cells rescues the increased cell death upon phenformin treatment. Together, the results of our study reveal that NBR2-GLUT1 axis may serve as an adaptive response in cancer cells to survive in response to phenformin treatment, and identify a novel mechanism coupling lncRNA to biguanide-mediated biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Liu
- a Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology , University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston , TS , USA
| | - Boyi Gan
- a Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology , University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston , TS , USA.,b Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology , University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston , TX , USA.,c Program of Genes and Development, and Program of Cancer Biology , University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , Houston , TX , USA
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Quintela-Fandino M. Normoxic or hypoxic adaptation in response to antiangiogenic therapy: Clinical implications. Mol Cell Oncol 2016; 3:e1217368. [PMID: 27857979 DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2016.1217368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In a recent article in Cell Reports, we described a novel mechanism for acquired resistance against new small-molecule antiangiogenic tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Vascular normalization-inducing TKIs block glycolysis and trigger a nutritional stress response in the tumor compartment that induces a (targetable) switch to mitochondrial metabolism. We discuss the implications for clinical/translational studies and suggest areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Quintela-Fandino
- Breast Cancer Clinical Research Unit, CNIO - Spanish National Cancer Research Center , Madrid, Spain
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41
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Lea MA, Guzman Y, Desbordes C. Inhibition of Growth by Combined Treatment with Inhibitors of Lactate Dehydrogenase and either Phenformin or Inhibitors of 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/Fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3. Anticancer Res 2016; 36:1479-1488. [PMID: 27069123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Enhanced glycolysis in cancer cells presents a target for chemotherapy. Previous studies have indicated that proliferation of cancer cells can be inhibited by treatment with phenformin and with an inhibitor of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB) namely 3-(3-pyridinyl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one (3PO). In the present work, the action of two inhibitors that are effective at lower concentrations than 3PO, namely 1-(3-pyridinyl)-3-(2-quinolinyl)-2-propen-1-one (PQP) and 1-(4-pyridinyl)-3-(2-quinolinyl)-2-propen-1-one (PFK15) were investigated. The inhibitors of lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) studied in order of half-maximal inhibitory concentrations were methyl 1-hydroxy-6-phenyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-indole-2-carboxylate (NHI-2) < isosafrole < oxamate. In colonic and bladder cancer cells, additive growth inhibitory effects were seen with the LDHA inhibitors, of which NHI-2 was effective at the lowest concentrations. Growth inhibition was generally greater with PFK15 than with PQP. The increased acidification of the culture medium and glucose uptake caused by phenformin was blocked by combined treatment with PFKFB3 or LDHA inhibitors. The results suggest that combined treatment with phenformin and inhibitors of glycolysis can cause additive inhibition of cell proliferation and may mitigate lactic acidosis caused by phenformin when used as a single agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Lea
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, U.S.A.
| | - Yolanda Guzman
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, U.S.A
| | - Charles Desbordes
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, U.S.A. Department of Biology, Medgar Evers College - City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A
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42
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Abstract
Improvements in healthcare and nutrition have generated remarkable increases in life expectancy worldwide. This is one of the greatest achievements of the modern world yet it also presents a grave challenge: as more people survive into later life, more also experience the diseases of old age, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. Developing new ways to improve health in the elderly is therefore a top priority for biomedical research. Although our understanding of the molecular basis of these morbidities has advanced rapidly, effective novel treatments are still lacking. Alternative drug development strategies are now being explored, such as the repurposing of existing drugs used to treat other diseases. This can save a considerable amount of time and money since the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety profiles of these drugs are already established, effectively enabling preclinical studies to be bypassed. Metformin is one such drug currently being investigated for novel applications. The present review provides a thorough and detailed account of our current understanding of the molecular pharmacology and signalling mechanisms underlying biguanide-protein interactions. It also focuses on the key role of the microbiota in regulating age-associated morbidities and a potential role for metformin to modulate its function. Research in this area holds the key to solving many of the mysteries of our current understanding of drug action and concerted effects to provide sustained and long-life health.
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Momcilovic M, McMickle R, Abt E, Seki A, Simko SA, Magyar C, Stout DB, Fishbein MC, Walser TC, Dubinett SM, Shackelford DB. Heightening Energetic Stress Selectively Targets LKB1-Deficient Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers. Cancer Res 2015; 75:4910-22. [PMID: 26574479 PMCID: PMC4654699 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-0797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Inactivation of the LKB1 tumor suppressor is a frequent event in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) leading to the activation of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and sensitivity to the metabolic stress inducer phenformin. In this study, we explored the combinatorial use of phenformin with the mTOR catalytic kinase inhibitor MLN0128 as a treatment strategy for NSCLC bearing comutations in the LKB1 and KRAS genes. NSCLC is a genetically and pathologically heterogeneous disease, giving rise to lung tumors of varying histologies that include adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). We demonstrate that phenformin in combination with MLN0128 induced a significant therapeutic response in KRAS/LKB1-mutant human cell lines and genetically engineered mouse models of NSCLC that develop both adenocarcinomas and SCCs. Specifically, we found that KRAS/LKB1-mutant lung adenocarcinomas responded strongly to phenformin + MLN0128 treatment, but the response of SCCs to single or combined treatment with MLN0128 was more attenuated due to acquired resistance to mTOR inhibition through modulation of the AKT-GSK signaling axis. Combinatorial use of the mTOR inhibitor and AKT inhibitor MK2206 robustly inhibited the growth and viability of squamous lung tumors, thus providing an effective strategy to overcome resistance. Taken together, our findings define new personalized therapeutic strategies that may be rapidly translated into clinical use for the treatment of KRAS/LKB1-mutant adenocarcinomas and squamous cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Momcilovic
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Robert McMickle
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Evan Abt
- Department of Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Atsuko Seki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sarah A Simko
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Clara Magyar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - David B Stout
- Department of Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael C Fishbein
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Tonya C Walser
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Steven M Dubinett
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California. Department of Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - David B Shackelford
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California.
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Lea MA, Altayyar M, desBordes C. Inhibition of Growth of Bladder Cancer Cells by 3-(3-Pyridinyl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one in Combination with Other Compounds Affecting Glucose Metabolism. Anticancer Res 2015; 35:5889-5899. [PMID: 26504012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In seven out of eight human bladder cell lines that were examined herein, growth was more dependent on the presence in the incubation medium of glucose rather than glutamine. The exception was the slowly growing RT4 cells that were more glutamine-dependent. Growth of all the cell lines was reduced by an inhibitor of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/2,6-bisphosphatase 3, namely 3-(3-pyridinyl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one (3PO). Growth was also reduced by three compounds that reduce the conversion of glucose to lactate: namely 2-deoxyglucose, butyrate and dichloroacetate. Additive effects were seen when these molecules were combined with 3PO. Treatment of bladder cancer cells with phenformin resulted in growth inhibition that was frequently accompanied by increased glucose uptake and acidification of the medium that was blocked by co-incubation with 3PO. The actions of 3PO suggest that inhibitors of PFKB3 merit further investigation in the treatment of bladder cancer and they may be useful agents in combination with other drugs that inhibit cancer cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Lea
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, U.S.A.
| | - Mansour Altayyar
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, U.S.A
| | - Charles desBordes
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, U.S.A. Department of Biology, Medgar Evers College - City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A
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45
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Wang ZD, Wei SQ, Wang QY. Targeting oncogenic KRAS in non-small cell lung cancer cells by phenformin inhibits growth and angiogenesis. Am J Cancer Res 2015; 5:3339-3349. [PMID: 26807315 PMCID: PMC4697681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors require a vascular supply to grow and can achieve this via the expression of pro-angiogenic growth factors. Many potential oncogenic mutations have been identified in tumor angiogenesis. Somatic mutations in the small GTPase KRAS are the most common activating lesions found in human cancer, and are generally associated with poor response to standard therapies. Biguanides, such as the diabetes therapeutics metformin and phenformin, have demonstrated anti-tumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. The extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling is known to be a major cellular target of biguanides. Based on KRAS activates several down-stream effectors leading to the stimulation of the RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (RAF/MEK/ERK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathways, we investigated the anti-tumor effects of biguanides on the proliferation of KRAS-mutated tumor cells in vitro and on KRAS-driven tumor growth in vivo. In cancer cells harboring oncogenic KRAS, phenformin switches off the ERK pathway and inhibit the expression of pro-angiogenic molecules. In tumor xenografts harboring the KRAS mutation, phenformin extensively modifies the tumor growth causing abrogation of angiogenesis. These results strongly suggest that significant therapeutic advantage may be achieved by phenformin anti-angiogenesis for the treatment of tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Dong Wang
- Department of Oncology, Eighth Hospital of ChangshaNo. 22 Xingsha Avenue, Changsha 410100, Hunan Province, China
| | - Sheng Quan Wei
- Department of Respiration, Shanxi Baoji People’s HospitalNo. 24 Xinhua Lane, Jinger Road, Baoji 721000, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Qin Yi Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri-ColumbiaMO 65211-2200, USA
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46
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Krishnamurthy S, Ng VWL, Gao S, Tan MH, Hedrick JL, Yang YY. Codelivery of dual drugs from polymeric micelles for simultaneous targeting of both cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2015; 10:2819-32. [PMID: 26377155 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.15.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Phenformin-loaded micelles (Phen M) were used in combination with gemcitabine-loaded micelles (Gem M) to study their combined effect against H460 human lung cancer cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs) in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS & METHODS Gem M and Phen M were prepared via self-assembly of a mixture of a diblock copolymer of PEG and urea-functionalized polycarbonate (PEG-PUC) and a diblock copolymer of PEG and acid-functionalized polycarbonate (PEG-PAC) through hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions. Gem M and Phen M were characterized and tested for efficacy both in vitro and in vivo against cancer cells and CSCs. RESULTS The combination of Gem M/Phen M exhibited higher cytotoxicity against CSCs and non-CSCs than Gem M and Phen M alone, and showed significant cell cycle growth arrest in vitro. The combination therapy had superior tumor suppression and apoptosis in vivo without inducing toxicity to liver and kidney. CONCLUSION The combination of Gem M and Phen M may be potentially used in lung cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeetha Krishnamurthy
- Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore 138669, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences & Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Victor W L Ng
- Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore 138669, Singapore
| | - Shujun Gao
- Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore 138669, Singapore
| | - Min-Han Tan
- Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore 138669, Singapore
| | - James L Hedrick
- IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
| | - Yi Yan Yang
- Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore 138669, Singapore
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Livingstone E, Swann S, Lilla C, Schadendorf D, Roesch A. Combining BRAF(V) (600E) inhibition with modulators of the mitochondrial bioenergy metabolism to overcome drug resistance in metastatic melanoma. Exp Dermatol 2015; 24:709-10. [PMID: 25865258 DOI: 10.1111/exd.12718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Alexander Roesch
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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48
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Hellberg V, Gahm C, Liu W, Ehrsson H, Rask-Andersen H, Laurell G. Immunohistochemical localization of OCT2 in the cochlea of various species. Laryngoscope 2015; 125:E320-5. [PMID: 25892279 PMCID: PMC5132114 DOI: 10.1002/lary.25304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Objective To locate the organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) in the cochlea of three different species and to modulate the ototoxicity of cisplatin in the guinea pig by pretreatment with phenformin, having a known affinity for OCT2. Study Design Immunohistochemical and in vivo study. Methods Sections from the auditory end organs were subjected to immunohistochemical staining in order to identify OCT2 in cochlea from untreated rats, guinea pigs, and a pig. In the in vivo study, guinea pigs were given phenformin intravenously 30 minutes before cisplatin administration. Electrophysiological hearing thresholds were determined, and hair cells loss was assessed 96 hours later. The total amount of platinum in cochlear tissue was determined using mass spectrometry. Results Organic cation transporter 2 was found in the supporting cells and in type I spiral ganglion cells in the cochlea of all species studied. Pretreatment with phenformin did not reduce the ototoxic side effect of cisplatin. Furthermore, the concentration of platinum in the cochlea was not affected by phenformin. Conclusions The localization of OCT2 in the supporting cells and type I spiral ganglion cells suggests that this transport protein is not primarily involved in cisplatin uptake from the systemic circulation. We hypothesize that OCT2 transport intensifies cisplatin ototoxicity via transport mechanisms in alternate compartments of the cochlea. Level of Evidence N/A. Laryngoscope, 125:E320–E325, 2015
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline Gahm
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hans Ehrsson
- Karolinska Pharmacy, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm
| | | | - Göran Laurell
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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49
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Piel S, Ehinger JK, Elmér E, Hansson MJ. Metformin induces lactate production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and platelets through specific mitochondrial complex I inhibition. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2015; 213:171-80. [PMID: 24801139 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
AIM Metformin is a widely used antidiabetic drug associated with the rare side effect of lactic acidosis which has been proposed to be linked to drug-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Using respirometry, the aim of this study was to evaluate mitochondrial toxicity of metformin to human blood cells in relation to that of phenformin, a biguanide analogue withdrawn in most countries due to a high incidence of lactic acidosis. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and platelets were isolated from healthy volunteers, and integrated mitochondrial function was studied in permeabilized and intact cells using high-resolution respirometry. A wide concentration range of metformin (0.1-100 mm) and phenformin (25-500 μm) was investigated for dose- and time-dependent effects on respiratory capacities, lactate production and pH. RESULTS Metformin induced respiratory inhibition at complex I in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and platelets (IC50 0.45 mm and 1.2 mm respectively). Phenformin was about 20-fold more potent in complex I inhibition of platelets than metformin. Metformin further demonstrated a dose- and time-dependent respiratory inhibition and augmented lactate release at a concentration of 1 mm and higher. CONCLUSION Respirometry of human peripheral blood cells readily detected respiratory inhibition by metformin and phenformin specific to complex I, providing a suitable model for probing drug toxicity. Lactate production was increased at concentrations relevant for clinical metformin intoxication, indicating mitochondrial inhibition as a direct causative pathophysiological mechanism. Relative to clinical dosing, phenformin displayed a more potent respiratory inhibition than metformin, possibly explaining the higher incidence of lactic acidosis in phenformin-treated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Piel
- Mitochondrial Medicine; Department of Clinical Sciences; Lund University; Lund Sweden
- NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB; Lund Sweden
| | - J. K. Ehinger
- Mitochondrial Medicine; Department of Clinical Sciences; Lund University; Lund Sweden
- NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB; Lund Sweden
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology; Head and Neck Surgery; Skåne University Hospital; Lund Sweden
| | - E. Elmér
- Mitochondrial Medicine; Department of Clinical Sciences; Lund University; Lund Sweden
- NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB; Lund Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology; Skåne University Hospital & Lund University; Lund Sweden
| | - M. J. Hansson
- Mitochondrial Medicine; Department of Clinical Sciences; Lund University; Lund Sweden
- NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB; Lund Sweden
- Department of Clinical Physiology; Skåne University Hospital & Lund University; Lund Sweden
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50
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Egnatchik RA, Leamy AK, Noguchi Y, Shiota M, Young JD. Palmitate-induced activation of mitochondrial metabolism promotes oxidative stress and apoptosis in H4IIEC3 rat hepatocytes. Metabolism 2014; 63:283-95. [PMID: 24286856 PMCID: PMC3946971 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2013.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2013] [Revised: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/20/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hepatic lipotoxicity is characterized by reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and excessive apoptosis, but the precise sequence of biochemical events leading to oxidative damage and cell death remains unclear. The goal of this study was to delineate the role of mitochondrial metabolism in mediating hepatocyte lipotoxicity. MATERIALS/METHODS We treated H4IIEC3 rat hepatoma cells with free fatty acids in combination with antioxidants and mitochondrial inhibitors designed to block key events in the progression toward apoptosis. We then applied (13)C metabolic flux analysis (MFA) to quantify mitochondrial pathway alterations associated with these treatments. RESULTS Treatment with palmitate alone led to a doubling in oxygen uptake rate and in most mitochondrial fluxes. Supplementing culture media with the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) reduced ROS accumulation and caspase activation and partially restored cell viability. However, (13)C MFA revealed that treatment with NAC did not normalize palmitate-induced metabolic alterations, indicating that neither elevated ROS nor downstream apoptotic events contributed to mitochondrial activation. To directly limit mitochondrial metabolism, the complex I inhibitor phenformin was added to cells treated with palmitate. Phenformin addition eliminated abnormal ROS accumulation, prevented the appearance of apoptotic markers, and normalized mitochondrial carbon flow. Further studies revealed that glutamine provided the primary fuel for elevated mitochondrial metabolism in the presence of palmitate, rather than fatty acid beta-oxidation, and that glutamine consumption could be reduced through co-treatment with phenformin but not NAC. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that ROS accumulation in palmitate-treated H4IIEC3 cells occurs downstream of altered mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, which is independent of beta-oxidation and precedes apoptosis initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Egnatchik
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alexandra K Leamy
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Yasushi Noguchi
- Institute for Innovation, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Masakazu Shiota
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jamey D Young
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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